https://www.scmp.com/rss/274482/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com When Premier Wen Jiabao went overseas he would often seize the chance to show the personable side of the Chinese leadership to overseas audiences, who sometimes perceive it as stern and rigid. In addition to serious business talks and deals, Wen would chat with ordinary citizens and on some occasions delivered remarks considered sensitive that were downplayed by the state media at home. In contrast to the serious, stiff look of most Chinese leaders, who appear reluctant to express their personal... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1089542/premier-wen-shows-chinas-best-face-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1089542/premier-wen-shows-chinas-best-face-world?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Premier Wen Jiabao has made a final push for political reform before giving up his party leadership post, urging his successors to revive long-stalled efforts to develop democracy and promote the rule of law. "[The party] should make a particular effort to promote the reform of the leadership system of the party and the country, develop democracy, optimise the legal system and realise the rule of law," Wen told the Tianjin delegation at the 18th party congress on Thursday, which Xinhua reported... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1079036/wen-jiabao-determined-bow-out-fighting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1079036/wen-jiabao-determined-bow-out-fighting?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Hu Jintao presided over a momentous decade in which China cemented its re-emergence as a global power, became the world’s second-largest economy, and dazzled the world with a glittering Olympic Games. But the outgoing Communist chief leaves his successor Xi Jinping – set to be appointed party leader at a congress starting this week – facing an array of problems stemming from China’s economic and social shifts, and hidebound politics. When Hu, 69, came to power a decade ago, he was a largely... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1076096/hu-leaves-behind-mighty-yet-anxious-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1076096/hu-leaves-behind-mighty-yet-anxious-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Nov 2012 04:42:26 +0000 The frosty wind that blew across the Taiwan Strait for decades has warmed considerably in recent years as both Beijing and Taipei focused on areas of agreement rather than dispute. Since then-Kuomintang leader Lien Chan's landmark meeting with President Hu Jintao in 2005, the two governments have signed numerous co-operation pacts allowing more people and capital to flow across the strait even as they remain military foes. But such deals have just scratched the surface of any potential... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1063394/cross-strait-relations-nearing-deep-water-zone?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1063394/cross-strait-relations-nearing-deep-water-zone?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Who is the most athletic Chinese politician of our time? Political pundits, who often struggle to assess party officials' prowess in the political arena, appear to have reached consensus that Premier Wen Jiabao could easily best any of his contemporaries on the field of play. Just months away from his expected retirement, the 70-year-old Wen made headlines yesterday after showing off his basketball skills in a game with former national team players during the "golden week" holiday. The state-run... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1056626/counting-down-his-retirement-wen-seeks-defend-his-legacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1056626/counting-down-his-retirement-wen-seeks-defend-his-legacy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Over his 10 years as premier, Wen Jiabao has often been Beijing's first face on the scene when disaster strikes in some remote corner of the country. Many have appreciated his knack for turning a poetic phrase and showing compassion for victims. But Wen's nine-hour trip on Friday to the remote Yunnan province county where a large but relatively contained landslide killed 18 primary school pupils and a villager struck some experts as a political move to secure his legacy ahead of his looming... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1055587/wen-jiabaos-visit-scene-yunnan-school-tragedy-puzzles-observers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1055587/wen-jiabaos-visit-scene-yunnan-school-tragedy-puzzles-observers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000 Zhou Xiaochuan has been head of the central bank, the People's Bank of China (PBOC), for almost 10 years but he will turn 65 in January and is due to retire, leaving some very big shoes to fill. While he doesn't have the political heft that goes with membership of the Communist Party's Politburo, Zhou's expertise and knowledge of monetary issues have made him a key player in the fortunes of the world's second-largest economy. Foreign Policy magazine ranked him fourth on its Top 100 Global... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1036135/chinas-central-bank-governor-zhou-xiaochuan-led-financial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1036135/chinas-central-bank-governor-zhou-xiaochuan-led-financial?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0000 While former premier Zhu Rongji is credited with introducing bold measures that set the mainland's financial system on the path of reform, his successor Wen Jiabao may be remembered more for his eloquent speeches than strong action when he steps down from his position early next year. Zhu, 83, published a set of books late last year aimed at explaining the economic and financial reform process during his 12 years as vice-premier and premier until Wen took over in 2003. The books quickly won... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1035270/premier-wens-rule-overshadowed-predecessor-zhus-bold-reforms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1035270/premier-wens-rule-overshadowed-predecessor-zhus-bold-reforms?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0000 It's the beginning of the end for Hu Jintao's decade-long reign over the world's last major communist power, with Beijing preparing for a once-in-a-decade leadership succession in just a few weeks' time. Hu, the head of the People's Republic's fourth generation leadership, is preparing to pass the baton to heir apparent Xi Jinping and a new group of leaders. In a bid to drown out discordantassessments of the past decade, the party propaganda machine has been at full throttle, lavishing praise on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1031120/president-hu-jintaos-legacy-seen-one-stability-stagnation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1031120/president-hu-jintaos-legacy-seen-one-stability-stagnation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:00:00 +0000